Improvement in knife-handles



NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID H. MERRIAM, OF FITGHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN KNIFE-HANDLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 54,189, dated April 24, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID H. MERRIAM, of Fitchburg, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new in the accompanyingv drawings, of which- Figure l is a side elevation of a knife made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the knife-blade and its two tangs as separate from the handle. Fig'. 3 is a side View, Fig. 4 an edge view, Fig. 5 an upper end view, and Fig. (i a lower end view, ofthe handle. Fig. 7 is a top view, Fig. 8 a vertical section, andFig. 9 an end view, of the bolster or shoulder-piece.

One distinctive feature of my invention consists in two tang's, a a, ez'thending from the blade B. When a steel or a fork is to have its handle applied to it in accordance with my invention that part of the steel or fork which extends beyond the upper end of the handle is to have two tangs projecting from it, as the tangs a a extend from the blade B. (Shown in Fig. 2.) These tangs are arranged with a space, c, between them, which is to receive a part, c, ofthe handle when the tangs are inserted in two grooves, l d, which are made in opposite edges ofthe handle. The extremities of the tangs are formed with projections f f to go through a cap, E, placed against the lower end of the handle, the said projections being afterward upset, so as to confine the cap to the tangs.

The handle at its upper end has a tenon, g,

to enter a recess or space, 7i, made in the lower side or part of the bolster D, such bolster also being formed with a groove, t', through its top, and with edge grooves, k 7c, to enable it to lap on the blade B and the tangs t a.

By constructing the blade with the two tangs, and by making the bolster and the handle in manner as explained, I am enabled not only to hold the handle to the blade, but to embrace the handle by the tangs so as to prevent it from splitting lengthwise.

I am also enabled to dispense with all rivets going through the handle, and to construct the blade and its tan gs from a plate ot' steel.

My niode of making and applying the handle has other advantages, as must be apparent to persons skilled in the making of table-cutlery.

l. The combination and arrangement of the two tangs a a. and the blade B, or its equivalent.

2. The application of the shoulder-piece or bolster D to the tangs and blade, substantially in manner as specified.

3. The application of the handle to thetangs and blade, substantially in the manner as described.

4. The combination and arrangement of the cap E with the tangs a t and blade B, or the v same and the handle C, substantially as set forth.

5. The application ofthe handle to the tangs, blade, and bolster, substantially as described.

DAVID H. MERRIAM.

Witnesses:

G. H. WASHBURN, F. P. HALE, J r. 

